It is pretty overwhelming to take all three, but it can be done. I did all three plus human g&d and still got all A's. Things are different now - perfect grades are no longer enough, reapplication points are required. So I'd say do it, get that first application in as soon as possible. Reapplication points will mean way more than the tiny difference between an A and a B.

Hyunjung001, I think it can be done, especially if you have good time management, and hopefully don't have a full job. Also, if you are good at conceptual learning for physio. I think summer is 11 weeks instead of 16, so that is a factor to consider. They do offer the test right after the end of summer semester, I think one week after it ends. For me it was like 2 or 3 days before the deadline. After you finish the test on the computer, the computer computes your score so you know and you can turn in your application to the department right away. Unfortunately, you no longer can take the test before all your pre-reqs are done. I agree with nick --- you should get your application in ASAP for the review points. Try to get the As because that is possible and still important. Good luck!

No problem! Try not to stress too much, I know it's super easy for me to say that now that I'm done with the program. Every semester I stressed like crazy over the dosage exams and every semester I would get a 90 or 100. On blackboard there will be a good review posted and every semester I would just review that and I was fine.

Mastery checkoffs will ALWAYS be stressful no matter how much you prepare.

I try not to stress, but it's always in the back of my mind. I try to tell myself that I've made it this far, so it has to account for something and that I'm on the right track. So I just need to hang in there. I'm so jealous that you are finish! Congrats! Are you preparing yourself for the NCLEX? If you don't mind me asking so that way I can get an idea how to prepare myself- how long are you planning on taking time to study for the NCLEX? I've been researching ways other people are studying for the NCLEX and some say that you don't really study for the NCLEX like a flashcard test. Some just buy alot of NCLEX books, and study the questions over and over again. What are your plans?

I try not to stress, but it's always in the back of my mind. I try to tell myself that I've made it this far, so it has to account for something and that I'm on the right track. So I just need to hang in there. I'm so jealous that you are finish! Congrats! Are you preparing yourself for the NCLEX? If you don't mind me asking so that way I can get an idea how to prepare myself- how long are you planning on taking time to study for the NCLEX? I've been researching ways other people are studying for the NCLEX and some say that you don't really study for the NCLEX like a flashcard test. Some just buy alot of NCLEX books, and study the questions over and over again. What are your plans?

I took the onsite three day HURST review in the break between level 3 and 4. It is a great course and really prepares you for the final semester and its a great review of the things you've already covered in school.

During level 4, we had representatives from both Kaplan and Hurst come and speak with us about their courses. The Kaplan rep did a drawing and I actually won their review course for free. So I took it live online over two separate weekends. Then I just recently retook the onsite three day course for free again after graduation.

Hurst does a good job of making sure you understand the concepts of things while the Kaplan course does a little of that, but mainly focuses on how to take NCLEX questions.

Since nobody in our graduating class has our permission to test letter yet, nobody has a test date. This is frustrating because for me, it is hard to sit down and focus on material when I have no set deadline. What I've been doing so far are practice tests, both through Kaplan and Hurst. I've been scoring pretty well on them so far.

What I would recommend would be to buy a good NCLEX book before level 1 starts. Saunders is highly recommended and I used it through all four semesters. The biggest adjustment for most students are the nursing tests, the way the questions can be worded are seriously difficult for some people to adjust to.

What helped me get good grades in all 4 semesters will not work for some but I figured I would pass it along anyways.

I would always read the required textbook readings for the upcoming tests. It might seem like tons of material, and it is, but just remember, you are in nursing school, not medical school. A lot of the readings in the textbook start out with a basic anatomy and physiology review before going into the stuff you really need to know for the tests. A lot of my classmates were getting overwhelmed in level 1 because they spent so much time trying to focus on the pathophysiology and memorizing this and that, they didn't focus on the nursing aspects. The Lewis Med/Surg book does a great job of breaking down the diseases and disorders you are studying by sections like : pathophysiology, A&P review, nursing considerations, complications, nursing diagnosis, and so on.

Yes you need a basic understanding of the pathophysiology, but do you need as much detail as you did in pre-reqs....no. One of my level 2 instructors said it best when she said...."do I care if you know all the dozens of different types of surgeries which could be done for this problem?? NO! I care about whether or not you as a nurse understand the complications, expected outcomes, and nursing interventions in case something does go wrong."

So after reading the required textbook material, I would look at the powerpoints and notes on blackboard, then I would review the material again in the Saunders NCLEX book so I could look at some example test questions and see why the answers to the questions were right or wrong.

I had classmates who felt like they couldn't pass the exams unless they printed out every single page they could....forests around the world cried out in protest. Some had HUGE notebooks full of notes and powerpoints. That was fine for them because they needed that to help them pass. I started out level 1 with that mindset but found out quickly that I could do just as well by doing what I stated above.

My grades in nursing school were much better than they were in pre-reqs because the majority of the pre-req classes were memorizing things. Nursing school is not about memorizing things, but critically thinking. That's why I got a B in Anatomy but an A in physiology.

All of you will find out quickly what works for you best when beginning the program. The instructors at ACC are there to help you, don't be afraid to utilize them. They want to see you succeed.

I called the advisor today at RRC to ask about to if I can register to take HESI in august before I finish my pre-reqs and she told me I can't. I'll be done with all my pre-reqs this summer and would like to apply for 2014 Spring ASAP like @Sungal recommended. But like the advisor at RRC told me, if I can't even "register" to take the HESI before I complete all my pre-req, isn't it too late to register for the test once I finish the pre-reqs since I'm only going to have one week to register, and actually take the test and turn in my application? I really don't want to wait another semester if I can do something about it...

Does anybody know what we're supposed to wear to orientation on the 10th? Scrubs, business casual, or whatever we want? Also, where did you guys get your patches sewn on? I got the patches, but the lady at the scrub store basically discouraged me from having "their person" do it... she said it was expensive and took a long time. If they were iron-on I could do it myself, but I'm not going to attempt to sew them on myself!

Nick, go to Total Uniforms on Ben White. I have had them do my LVN and then they did the ADN patches and I have had no issues. It was $5 per patch and $1 to sew per patch. They had it done the next day and I needed five patches done.

As for the orientation, I am not sure. I would assume whatever you want though. I actually wish I was going to the orientation but Tammy said it was for Level 1 only. I am so nervous! I think an orientation would help me relax.

hyunjung001, I took HESI last summer right after I finished the pharmacology class, and was able to apply for the spring in time. The last day of class was around August 13th and the last HESI offered that summer was August 21st. You will not need more than a week to study for HESI, if that. Good luck!